The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-18


fallen into one great mass there appeared
little or no let up in their fury. Nos.
and We're separated by q brick wall, but
for the good it did it might have been OF
paper The fire leaped across from No. 4
TO No. . with the utmost ease, and laid the
latter low in jihy. No. 8 was hemmed
in from No. 1 by a substantial brick wall
some ten feet high which for n time af-
lorled shelter for the multitude OF specta-
tors, but served to hinder the fremen.
There was no entrance on the east side,
and oven had there been, il would have
been the hight of folly and almost certain
death TO enter.
Withinthc two compress sheds destroyed
were
1929 BALES OF COTTON,
MS nearly MS could be learned from clerks
employed about the place. This large stock
belonged to buyers Tor export exclusively,
and furnished material for the company TO
operate on day and night II was com
pressed and loaded upon cars as rapidly rs
possible, number OF which were stand
ing in the yard already loaded and ready
! 10 be pulled out. Not II bale was saved
from the sheds, and hut very few from the
ears. These were scorchcd and blackcned
in such amanner as TO render themalmost
valuelcss, save to loose cotton or junk
dealers.
At short intervals o rumbling noise, fol-
lowed 10y a crash, added 10 the confusion,
and then came heavy volumes OF flame,
sparks and leaden colored smoke. The
sheds fell one by one and with remarkable
| rapidity. the last ones TO tumble being in
| NOD. With the latter went large sections of
the wall, which made the heat 30 intense
on the east side that the crowds scampered
TO distance or behind shelter. After this
1t was comparatively easy to play upon the
fire, which lay open before the iircmen,
but covered the space previously men
| toned.
The cotton burned, as before stated,
BELONGED To BUYERS
! for export. As far rs could be ascertained,
| II was the property OF the following par
| ties Jones Bros. Watson, Wood 4 Co.,
! Robert Jones IT., G. 4. Farnsworth & Co.
! and \. NJ. Batcson. In addition, there
were several hundred bales which Ind
| been stored there since the first Of the sea
son, but the owners are unknown. Most
of this had been compressed. Twelve
hundred OF the number, and the largest
lot OF mcomprcssed, had been transferred
from shed No. ] during the afternoon.
These buyers, or. their agents, were
on hand early and rendered every possible
assistance in the work Of saving the prop
erty. 80 far rs they were financially con-
cerned, however, this industry on their
part was altogether unnecessary, rs their
holdings OF cotton were fully covered by
insurance.
Early in the fires ravagcs all the ears in
the ward, save lew furthest from the burn
ing district, ignited, and were entirely con-
sumed, together with their contents. Some
OF them were loaded with cotton, Others
! with coal for the compress company's use.
Fully fifty cans were destroyed. The first
string 10 succumb TO the flames were four
teen box and flat cans stationed ON the
track of the Chesapeake q Ohio road.
They we're nearest the fire and wcrc
quicklycnnsumed. From these the flame.
spread TO others on the tracks Of the
Louisville d Nashville. Memphis q Little
Rock and Memphis 4 Charleston
railroads. About half OF the cars burned
were empty. Those that were loaded con
tanned different lines OF frcighis On the
Chc.apcakc X Ohio tracks. which were
nearest the lire, wer five box and four fiat
can loaded with coal and silt, besides sov'
rml containing slaves nnd other irrights
ON tire first track east, Travelled over by
the snme company, were about sixteen
can, both box and Hat. These were load
cd with miscellaneous frcighis, but nearly
All the nat cars. aud the greater portion 81
the box cans, contained coal direct from
the mines on the line 81 thc road. Fur
ihcr east, 0n what is known as the Louis
willie 4 Nashville track, and In clos
proximity 10 the platform Of com
press M. ], were about twenty box
can partly loaded. \ sWitch-cnginc wa
promptly coupled 10 this line Of cars, ans
II was ruin ont oi danger. Nearer still, ant
ON another track, thtfc were in the neigh
borhool Of fifteen cars. IL was though
hest not to move them, as they worc in NJ
danger Three al the ears, which wori
loaded with caslcrn-bound cotton, wcr
badly scorhcd. aud the cotton had 10 b'
thrnwn out. Another oi this line OF can
caught fir and WIS run up the track n IN
as Co,hr,n's saw-mll. There II blaze
inriously. aud emitted sparks that for
time threatened the siw.mill. A rcla!
from engine company No. was prompt,
on hand. and cxtinguishcd the fir
before il could do any damag
10 the mill. The cans tina
were either totally destroyed or damage,
, belonged 10 different roads outside Of thos
leading into the city. The actual value q
, each car destroyed or damaged cannot b
given, but valuing thcm NJ 500 eacl
would make the loss reach $4,000, and
, will probably 90 higher. Some of tie car
, are only partly burned. but II will tab
, considerable time and money 10 plac
4 them IN proper condition.
( 40. THnEArrNED.
! Atone time Il looked ~ II No. va
p doomed. Notwithstanding IL hal bee
: soaked inside and out with water, rs la
z every bale Oi cotton within Us walls. III
larg, aud handsome frame cupola nc ia
north end was ablazc more than once, bJ
}. engine company No. . seemed 10 hay
J. their ewes turned upon II incosslntly. \
a soon ~ blaze sufficiently large 10 call f
o attention showed itself, a stream Of wat,
q WIS sent after Il with uncnng aim. \
a one time, when the fire there SCENE
II alarming, the thousands Of spectators sioo
y with haicd breath and watched the s'rcal
n Of water which at first fell short Of u
!. mark by several feet. When at last II
Il creased pressure accomplished the objc
II Of the iumcn. cry Ut JOY wrnt nj
!. joined in by Chief Clcary, OF the fire d
n department
y LIKE OniN srrCrFn.
q When the FIRE had been driven 10 Il
ground the tall iron frame Of comprc
= No. 4 stood like q grim spccier ia q
' midst Of a dcsolalc waste. The small
'e iron wan warped and bent, and cycryoi
~ expected momCniariiy 30 sec and hear
~ tumble. The powerful piece Of nachincI
r successfully resisted It's own weight, hol
Is ever and stll stands, almost the only rel
7. 81 that portion Of What was yesterday